Comparative studies of α-Lactalbumin and lysozyme: Echidna lysozyme

Hopper, K.E.; McKenzie, H.A.

doi:10.1007/bf01659181

Cited by 43 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…We have also confirmed previous findings (Messer and Kerry 1973;Hopper and McKenzie 1974) that free lactose is virtually absent from platypus milk.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Carbohydrates of the Milk of the Platypus

Messer¹,

Gadiel²,

Ralston³

et al. 1983

Aust. Jnl. Of Bio. Sci.

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Twelve samples of milk of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, had a mean content of 3· 3 % hexose. Of this, almost half was L-fucose. Of the total monosaccharides present in acid hydrolysates of the water-soluble carbohydrates, L-fucose constituted 33 %, D-galactose 29 %, glucosamine 20 %, D-glucose 11 % and sialic acid 7 %. Free lactose was found in only trace amounts. In all samples, the major oligosaccharide was difucosyliactose, which represented 39-52 % of the total hexose.Five higher neutral oligosaccharides (from penta-to nonasaccharides) were isolated and their monosaccharide compositions determined. Each contained one or more residues of fucose, glucosamine and galactose and one residue of glucose. The presence in the milk of 4-0-acetyl-Nacetylneuraminlactose was detected by thin-layer chromatography. All milk samples examined contained protein material (probably glycoprotein), which was not precipitated by chloroformmethanol extraction. No evidence was obtained for quantitative or qualitative changes in carbohydrates during the course of the lactation season except for a small decline in total hexose towards the end of the season.

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“…We have also confirmed previous findings (Messer and Kerry 1973;Hopper and McKenzie 1974) that free lactose is virtually absent from platypus milk.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Carbohydrates of the Milk of the Platypus

Messer¹,

Gadiel²,

Ralston³

et al. 1983

Aust. Jnl. Of Bio. Sci.

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“…A global discrepancy was seen between the transcript frequencies in the two species, with the platypus transcriptome largely dominated by beta-lactoglobin and casein transcripts while echidna milk cell RNA includes a higher proportion of whey proteins. This discrepancy is consistent with the observation that platypus milk contains fewer whey proteins than echidna milk (38). A number of whey proteins such as alpha-lactalbumin, lactotransferin, and WAP and WDC2 have been identified.…”

Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 77%

Evolution of Lactation: Ancient Origin and Extreme Adaptations of the Lactation System

Lefèvre

Sharp

Nicholas

2010

Annu. Rev. Genom. Hum. Genet.

142

107

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Lactation, an important characteristic of mammalian reproduction, has evolved by exploiting a diversity of strategies across mammals. Comparative genomics and transcriptomics experiments have now allowed a more in-depth analysis of the molecular evolution of lactation. Milk cell and mammary gland genomic studies have started to reveal conserved milk proteins and other components of the lactation system of monotreme, marsupial, and eutherian lineages. These analyses confirm the ancient origin of the lactation system and provide useful insight into the function of specific milk proteins in the control of lactation. These studies also illuminate the role of milk in the regulation of growth and development of the young beyond simple nutritive aspects.

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“…echidna) milks, the milk of echidna does not contain alactalbumin. The lysozyme of echidna milk does, however, show activity in the lactose synthetase system (Hopper and McKenzie, 1974). It thus appears that monotreme milk contains a protein which is a structural and functional intermediate of lysozyme and alactalbumin.…”

Section: The Emergence Of Mammary Functionmentioning

confidence: 98%